The holidays are just around the corner, so it’s time to start planning your Christmas celebration. But what if you’re living in a retirement community with dementia patients? How can you plan an event that will truly celebrate the season in a meaningful way for everyone? If you have a loved one with dementia who lives in retirement communities, here are some tips for making their holidays more enjoyable and less stressful:
Make The Christmas Celebration About The Person With Dementia
It’s essential to make the Christmas celebration about the person with dementia. The memories and traditions of previous years are gone, so this is an excellent opportunity for you to create new ones.
Make sure you have plenty of time on your hands to spend quality time with your loved one during their special day. Try to incorporate some of their favorite activities into the celebration; this could be anything from playing their favorite game or watching movies together (assuming they’re still able to do so) up to baking cookies together!
If you’re bringing a gift for someone with dementia who lives in a senior-friendly independent living community or nursing home during this time of year (or any other time), consider choosing something they can use year-round: picture frames filled with photos from their past; puzzles that don’t require reading skills; books about travel destinations they’ve never visited but would like to visit someday; etc.! The point here is not only to give them something unique but also helpful something- something they will enjoy every day in their current circumstances!
Change Up The Venue And Activities From Year To Year
One of the easiest ways to keep your loved one engaged and interested in the holiday is to change the venue and activities yearly. If you have a favorite spot, try something new! For example, if you usually go out for dinner on Christmas Eve with your family (despite their complaints), consider going somewhere else this year: maybe a restaurant that serves turkey or ham instead of beef or seafood, maybe even an all-you-can-eat buffet where they can fill up on cookies and cake while chatting up other diners who are also celebrating Christmas with dementia patients in retirement communities.
Don’t Try To Make It A Perfect Event
One of the most important things to remember when celebrating Christmas with a dementia patient is that you shouldn’t try to make it a perfect event. If you plan on taking your loved one out for dinner or something similar, don’t worry if they aren’t eating their food or enjoying themselves. Your goal isn’t to have them enjoy every moment; it’s simply to spend time with them and create positive memories.
If they are participating in activities at home, such as decorating their tree or making cookies together (which can be difficult due to lack of fine motor skills), then just go with the flow and try not to get frustrated if things don’t go according to plan.
Make Them Look Forward To An Event Or Activity
If your loved one has dementia, you may find that their memory is fading, and they are less able to remember what happened in the past. This can make it difficult for them to look forward to future things. However, if you help them plan an activity or event with other people with similar interests, it will give them something exciting to look forward to!
